New Haven Dreams of Street Cars

 When the city’s streetcar comeback plan made its first stop at Coop High School, trolley boosters jumped on board—and pushed for more “daring” destinations.

The discussion came Thursday night at the downtown Coop High School, where city officials held the first public information session on a proposed streetcar system.

City consultants propose building a three-mile, 12-stop “starter” streetcar system designed to link Union Station, the medical district, and downtown. Some in the 50-person audience called on the city to push beyond the limited route to reach more “daring” places, such as Grand or Whalley Avenue.

Others came bearing memories of the city’s former trolley system, remnants of which can still be seen in city streets.

Eighty-three year-old Jackie Grace graduated from West Haven High in 1944. She remembers with affection the “M” trolley car that she took from home to work at Yale. Then there was taking that same line to shows at the Arena on Grove Street. A token was a dime or three for a quarter. Then the trolleys disappeared in 1948.

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